WASHINGTON - It was a thrilling final quarter for the Gallaudet University women's basketball team here Tuesday night as the Bison won their second straight game to start the month of February. The Bison trailed for the majority of the game before they regained the lead late in the third quarter and extended it to eight points en route to a 70-62 victory over North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) rival Penn St.-Berks in the Field House. 

Gallaudet (7-11, 5-5 NEAC) iced the game at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter as the Bison went 7-for-8 (87.5 percent). The Bison finished the game with a season-best 20-for-26 (76.9 percent) at the free-throw line. GU went a combined 15 of 19 (78.9 percent) from the from the charity stripe in the second half.

On the flip side, Penn St.-Berks (9-9, 5-5 NEAC) only made 50 percent (8 of 16) of its shots from the free-throw line in the game. The Nittany Lions went a combined 1-for-5 (20.0 percent) from the charity stripe in the second half.

The visitors led by as much as 12 points, 25-13, in the second quarter at the 6:28 mark. GU cut into the lead and only trailed by four points at the half, 32-28. 

The Bison had four starters in double figures led by junior guard Emelia Beldon (Frederick, Md.) with 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and one steal. Freshman forward Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) added a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Freshman guard Rajena Guettler (Frederick, Md.) posted her own double-double with 11 points and 10 boards while junior guard Kendall Hudson (Blissfield, Mich.) chipped in 13 points, six rebounds and three steals. 

A pair of Nittany Lions finished with 19 points each as guards Katie Armstrong (12 rebounds) and Kylie Herman (eight rebounds) finished one point shy of 20. Forward Julia Bookwalter added a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

BISON TRACKS

• Perry added a game-high four blocks as the two teams combined to make nine blocked shots
• GU scored 30 points in the paint and 12 second-chance points off 14 offensive rebounds
• The Bison held a 47-46 edge in rebounds but PSB controlled offensive boards, 22-14
• PSB led for over 25 minutes as the game featured six lead changes and five ties
• Gallaudet's Athletics Department partnered with the University's Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion along with the Health and Wellness Program on a food drive to help fill the GU Food Pantry on campus. Through food and cash donations, hundreds of meals will be able to be distributed to Gallaudet students this semester. This was part of the Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion's second annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service during Black History Month. 
• Gallaudet's Student-Athletes Advisory Council (SAAC) also got involved with the event and raised money during both game's halftimes with a half-court shot as fans donated money to the cause to take a shot from halfcourt. All money raised will be donated to the GU Food Pantry.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will make the trip north to Lancaster, Pa., on Saturday, Feb. 8, for a 7 p.m. conference game at Lancaster Bible College (7-11, 5-4 NEAC)

Gallaudet Basketball Reunion (Feb. 14-15) sponsored by Sorenson Communications, LLC

The Gallaudet University men's and women's basketball programs will host a reunion weekend on Feb. 14-15, 2020, in the Field House for former GU basketball student-athletes, coaches and fans. If you are interested in attending the basketball reunion weekend please register here: http://igfn.us/form/PyyW3w. 

For more information: https://www.gallaudetathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/reunion-update

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